Natural Disasters of Indiana

Indiana might not be synonymous with hurricanes or tropical storms, but that doesn’t mean Indiana lacks extreme weather and natural phenomena. In this blog, the Munster home insurance experts at Gutierrez Family Agency will give you a history lesson on some of the most common extreme weather scenarios in Indiana, to give you a better idea of how (and why) you should protect your home from weather damage.

Tornadoes

Indiana is right on the edge of America’s “Tornado Alley,” an area that, because of conflicting warm and cool weather systems, has a higher likelihood for tornado activity. While Indiana may not have the highest tornado likelihood of US states (it ranks 16th amongst US states in tornado frequency), it certainly has its fair share of terrible twisters that can cause a lot of home and environmental damage.

The Tri-State Tornado of 1925 is the most deadly twister in the history of Indiana, and the record holder for the largest tornado track at a miraculous distance of 219 miles. This tornado was incredibly fast, travelling at an average rate of 62 miles per hour with a top speed of 73 miles per hour. This tornado destroyed entire cities across Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois, and was described by onlookers as “about a mile wide.”

Blizzards

If you’ve spent anytime in Indiana in the winter, you know just how brutal the blizzards can be. While not every snowstorm is one to write home about, severe snowstorms can cause property damage by breaking tree branches, busting roofing shingles, creating roofing leaks and water damage, and freezing pipes and other plumbing fixtures.

There have been many blizzards in the history of Indiana, but none compare to the Chicago Blizzard of 1967 that made its way into the west side of the state. The blizzard brought about heavy winds, limited visibility, and a whopping 23 inches of snow in a single day. Now that’s a snowstorm.

Severe Thunderstorms (and Flooding)

Indiana ranks 26th out of 50 states in terms of average annual precipitation. But don’t let that stat fool you—when it rains in Indiana, it pours. With over 40 inches of rain per year, a close proximity to the Mississippi River, and a high likelihood for thunderstorms, Indiana has had its fair share of extreme rainstorms where flooding is a natural byproduct.

Take The Great Flood of 1913 for example. Occurring between March 23 and 26, this flood caused over $330 million in damage and left seven percent of Indiana’s population homeless. All it took was some excess Mississippi River runoff and extreme rainfall to cause damage across Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, and (*takes a breath*) Virginia. This storm will forever go down as one of the worst natural disasters in American history.

Protect Your Home From Disaster

Indiana isn’t necessarily a hotbed for extreme weather or natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t protect your home from the bevy of damage that inclement weather can cause.

That’s where Gutierrez Family Agency can help. Equip yourself with high-end home insurance, and take advantage of our agency’s seasoned professionals to protect your home, your family, and the things that matter the most to you. Don’t wait—get started with Gutierrez Family Agency today!